The proposal, called inclusionary zoning, would require developers to devote 15 percent of the housing in any new development to low and moderate income households -- or pay their way out of the requirement with a donation of land or money. Opting out could cost a developer $50,000 for each affordable house or condo they chose not to build.

To help make developers whole, the county would offer density bonuses -- meaning they could build more homes per acre -- to help offset costs of the below market-rate units.

Local governments around Florida and the country are considering inclusionary zoning as an antidote to a real estate market that's soared in recent years and priced many middle-income workers out of the housing market.

Building industry groups have already filed suit against an inclusionary zoning proposal in Tallahassee. In Collier, the building industry successfully fought inclusionary zoning three years ago.

Brenda Talbert, the executive director of the 1,500-member Collier Building Industry Association, said today that her group feels the county is moving a bit fast on inclusionary zoning. "We really feel a lot more dialogue needs to be had on this," Talbert said.

Officials unveiled the draft at a meeting of the Collier County Affordable Housing Commission today. Any official vote by Collier's five elected commissioners wouldn't come until late summer or fall.

Assistant County Attorney Jeff Klatzkow said he believes inclusionary zoning will stir more public policy debate here in the coming months than any issue has in many years.

"We are treading on very thin ice as a matter of legality," Klatzkow told the Affordable Housing Commission today. "This will be fought tooth and nail by the development community ... Eventually a court will rule on whether this is lawful."